Discover the Wonder of Projects Made from Discount Yarns!
When you find discount yarns, it's time to pounce: you never know what you may discover.
Let's face it: in a world where a skein of actual wool yarn can cost up to twenty bucks, discount yarns are a gift from above. Some people view them with suspicion; others say avoid them because you'll never match the dye lot. Well, I say that's nonsense! Discount yarns are perfect for most knitting projects, charitable or otherwise. If you don't want that handmade sweater to cost more than the rest of your wardrobe combined, you might want to reconsider your stance on the discount bin!
Sources of Discount Yarns
There are all kinds of places you can seek out inexpensive yarn. Try:
-Garage sales and flea markets: Often, you'll find people who've tossed a few skeins into the 10 cent bin.
-Department stores and discount shops: Don't forget your friendly neighborhood "cheap shops!" You may scoff at buying food or clothing there, but yarn is another story altogether.
-Regular yarn stores: Often, you'll find discount yarns in a bin outside regular yarn shops. You can get great quality at super cheap prices.
-Online: As always, you can find many of your needs online. Try eBay, or check out one of these online discount yarns stores:
-Smiley's Yarns
-Knitting Warehouse
-Got Yarn
Tips for Shopping Smart
You'll find that yarns get discounted for many reasons: they're out of season, they aren't selling well, or the store needs to make room for new stock. Most of the time, though, discount yarns are discontinued brands or colors. That means if you're planning to make an entire project from one color, you'd better buy a lot. NEVER assume you'll be able to find it again later, or find a close match. We've all been down that road and it leads to disaster!
If you find a yarn you absolutely love but you know there isn't enough to make a single project, you have two options:
-Make a different project (something small, like a pillow or dishcloth)
-Modify your pattern
Modifying your pattern can mean something as simple as adding a solid color for stripes, or doing black sleeves on a gray sweater. As long as it's intentional, it'll probably look just great! Whatever you do, don't neglect those discount yarns out of fear: like a lost puppy, if you love it, you'll find a home for it somewhere.
